ALAMOSA, Colo. (September 25, 2014) -- It will be a rivalry renewed this Saturday as the Adams State University Grizzlies take on the Western State Colorado University Mountaineers on Saturday from Mountaineer Bowl. The afternoon clash will serve as the 68
th edition of the Colorado Classic – the second longest continual rivalry in the state.
"Anytime you have a rivalry game you get a little more excited around practice." Said head coach
Marty Heaton. "We hope to establish our run game early and often to open up some things for our receiving core. This is a big week for our program."
The winner controls possession of the coveted Colorado Classic Trophy which has remained in Alamosa since 2002. Both teams are currently searching for their first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) victory in 2014.
Adams State nearly completed an improbable comeback last week against Colorado Mesa University from Rex Stadium. After trailing 28-0 entering the fourth, ASU rattled off 20 unanswered points to make it a one possession game. The shift in momentum was guided by quarterback
Lamar McKnight and wide receiver
Phil Romero. The two connected for a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns highlighted by a 70-yard strike with 2:11 remaining. The Grizzlies would get no further as the potential game-tying drive was halted with an interception.
Meanwhile the Mountaineers are coming off a near upset of epic proportions against No. 2 Colorado State University-Pueblo. WSCU was a mere three yards away from adding another touchdown to pad their 23-19 lead in the closing minutes. However, the Mountaineers were halted on fourth-and-goal which prompted a 97-yard touchdown drive by CSU-Pueblo. The ThunderWolves' score pushed them ahead 26-23 with only 0:43 remaining in regulation. WSCU was unable to position their offense in field goal range on the following possession to send the game into overtime.
Behind the efforts of sophomore running back Austin Ekeler, the Mountaineers rank first in the RMAC with 193.3 rushing yards/game. Individually Ekeler averages 156 rushing yards/game which bests the second ranked runner in the RMAC by 67.7 rushing yards/game. His rushing yards/game rank sixth amongst all NCAA Division II players. Ekeler is also the conference leader with 183.3 all-purpose yards/game.
The Grizzlies also look to limit the leg of sophomore place kicker Ryan Winke who is a perfect 6-for-6 on field goals through three games. Winke was successful on two 40+ yard attempts a week ago against CSU-Pueblo and also made good of his 51-yard attempt during week one against Wayland Baptist University.
Live radio coverage will be provided by KSPK-FM with video service provided by the America ONE Network. Live stats will also be made available by the WSCU Sports Information department.
